Warriors roll to Game 1 victory as Grizzlies hope for Mike Conley's return

OAKLAND, Calif. – The bright lights of Oracle Arena, the screaming by the Golden State Warriors fans, even the sound of the buzzer – all of it was bothersome for Mike Conley Jr. What was even more painful for the injured point guard was seeing his Memphis Grizzlies struggle without him.

Conley missed his third straight playoff game during the Grizzlies' 101-88 loss to the Warriors in Game 1 of the second-round series on Sunday. This much was evident: If the Grizzlies hope to make this a series, they're going to need Conley back on the floor.

Conley has not played since suffering a facial injury in Game 3 of Memphis' first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 25, but he sat on the bench on Sunday. Memphis has lost two of its past three playoff games without him and it's uncertain when he will return.

"Today was a big step being able to go in front of the crowd and the loud noise," Conley told Yahoo Sports. "I did all right. All the horns and stuff really aggravated it. But it was all right.

"It's very tough because I know how much I mean to the team and the organization. We understand we have a chance with the team that we have put together. Our time is now."

Conley suffered a facial fracture – resulting in a swollen left eye and bleeding – when he was accidentally hit in the face by an elbow from Portland's C.J. McCollum. His left eye is red now, but he said that means the bleeding has stopped. The Grizzlies listed Conley as out indefinitely after he had surgery to repair the facial fracture on Monday.

Conley attended Wednesday's playoff game against the Blazers. In hindsight, he would have probably been better off staying in bed.

"The worst part immediately coming out of surgery … was I had not ate and I was throwing up, throwing up and throwing up the whole rest of the day," Conley told Yahoo Sports. "It was because of the pain meds because I needed them because of the pain. I couldn't deal with the pain. I couldn't deal with throwing up. I couldn't eat.

"I felt weak. I felt like I had a fever. …I was like, 'This is the worst feeling in the world.' I felt like that for two days and then I was able to get up for the game on Wednesday. It was the first time I was able to go to the [arena] and just watch the guys."

Conley did light shooting drills and running prior to Game 1 while wearing a protective mask. He admitted to having vision issues while shooting and said the condensation inside his mask was bothersome. He is expected to soon get a stronger mask that will better protect him from re-injury if he is hit.

While it wasn't much, Conley's light workout was better than being stuck in bed.

"You get a lot of headaches," Conley said. "You get a lot of pressure in that eye. It's tough to hear loud noises and horns. Lights hurt. It's sensitive to a lot. That's the biggest thing. But most of all my body is trying to get used to moving around because I took a full week where I was just laying in the bed and was not moving. Just being on the court a little bit helped."

Memphis coach David Joerger had said there was a slight chance Conley could play in Game 1. Conley said he and Joerger ultimately decided before tipoff that he was not ready. Conley also missed the final four games of the regular season with a sprained right foot.

"I'm no doctor, and he wasn't comfortable playing and I wasn't comfortable saying, 'You should play,' " Joerger said. "I know your head is throbbing like the top of a thermometer that gets too hot. But I think it was the right decision for him."

The Grizzlies are 9-5 without Conley this season. He averaged 16.5 points on 41.9 percent shooting, five assists and four turnovers in two regular-season games against the Warriors this season. Nick Calathes struggled badly in Game 1 as Conley's replacement going scoreless on four shots with two assists in 21 minutes. Calathes has 18 points and nine assists total in the three playoff games Conley has missed.

The Warriors have the needed size to match up with Memphis' elite big men Zach Randolph and All-Star center Marc Gasol. Without Conley, the Grizzlies will have a tough time countering Golden State's talented guards.

"He is good on both ends [of the floor]," Grizzlies guard Tony Allen said of Conley. "He keeps the defense honest. You know Conley could have easily been an All-Star this year. To me, he is one of the top-10 point guards in the league, if not top five. The way he has been playing throughout the year, we all know what he is capable of doing.

"He can hit the three. He can defend. And by him being out, there is a big piece of our team missing."

Conley hopes to return to the Grizzlies as soon as he's sure he won't hurt them more by being on the court.

"I know I am better than I was before." he said. "I'm trying to take it one day at a time. I've never had this injury before. I don't know the normal recovery time or anything. I'm just trying to be supportive and trying to be ready when I am."